In 80 BC, a spectacular murder case was negotiated in Rome: The wealthy landowner Sextus Roscius from Ameria was murdered, and his son, Sextus Roscius junior, was suspected of killing his own father. The charge was Parricidium, i.e. patricide – a crime that was particularly heinous in Roman law. The trial was re-take by Sullaestablished court of murder and poisoning (quaestio de veneficiis et sicariis).
Background and political dimension
Sextus Roscius Senior was a supporter of Sulla and connected to the powerful family of Caecilii Metelli. After the end of the proscriptions with which Sulla eliminated his political opponents, Roscius Senior was murdered. Shortly thereafter, his name was subsequently put on a proscription list, although the period had already expired. This enabled the released Sullas toLucius Cornelius Chrysogonus to bid for a ridiculous fortune of Roscius Senior for a ridiculous price. Chrysogonus used the relative Titus Roscius Magnus as administrator and expelled the son from his possession.
The Process and Cicero’s Defense
Sextus Roscius Junior was charged with the death of his father. The prosecution was brought forward by Gaius Erucius, a professional prosecutor. Cicero, then only 26 years old, took over the defense. In his famous speech, Cicero reconstructed the events, refuted the allegations against his client and showed that the son was not in Rome at the time of the crime andhad an impeccable relationship with his father. Cicero instead accused the greedy relatives and Chrysogonus of committing the murder of greed and wrongly accusing the son of the genius. Cicero managed to reach the judges emotionally and reveal the intrigue. Sextus Roscius Junior was acquitted but did not automatically regain possession of his property. the processMarked Cicero’s breakthrough as a lawyer and paved the way for him to Roman politics.
Meaning of the case
The case shows, for example, how political power, personal greed and the Roman legal system intertwine. The proscriptions under Sulla made it possible to expropriate and destroy political opponents and their families. At the same time, Cicero demonstrated with his defense how rhetoric and legal arguments could be used in ancient Rome to alsoto survive powerful opponents.
legal and social context
In Roman law, patricide (parricidium) was one of the most serious crimes. The punishments for murder and other crimes were often drastic and hardly differed between private and public crimes – death, Talion (retribution) and property victims were typical sanctions. The prosecution was essentially a private matter, organized by the injured or their clan, andThe principle of self-help played a major role. The trial of Sextus Roscius is a prime example of the intertwining of law, politics and personal intrigue in late Republican Rome. He made Cicero famous and is still a lesson in rhetoric and the history of the judiciary.
